Morrison, Lopes down No. 17 OSU

Friday, March 16

Fullerton, CALIF.

12:30 PM

Grand Canyon

16-15

Nebraska

18-7

Grand Canyon

Nebraska

Photo by: Josh Hauser

3/16/2018 5:43:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GCU splits on day one of Easton Invitational

By: Sarah Woodward

FULLERTON, Calif. – Freshman Yesenia Morrison (2-2) dealt seven strikeouts to No. 17 Ohio State (17-3) en route to her second collegiate victory, as the Grand Canyon softball team defeated the Buckeyes, 7-6, on Friday afternoon. The Lopes (17-15) dropped the first game of the day to Nebraska (18-7), 4-1.

"When we played Nebraska, it felt like if we had come out and just did what we were capable of doing, we would've had a really good chance to get a win," head coach Ann Pierson said. "I thought Bobo (Aguilar-Beaucage) threw a decent game, but she got hit hard when she had mistakes and good teams are going to do that.

"There are little things that we're just needing to sure up. We were too tentative at the plate and that will continue to be something we'll work on.

"In the next game against a really talented Ohio State team, Yessie (Morrison) threw the best game that she's thrown so far. She kept their hitters off balance and our defense made some great plays. Her career-best seven strikeouts gave us a chance to get our offense going.

"We've got to keep an aggressive approach at the plate and continue to try and attack when we're on defense," Pierson said. "We need to bring that approach tomorrow, but I'm really proud of the kids today. That was a huge win and certainly our biggest win all year. We're looking forward to tacking on more."

GAME ONE
Nebraska got on the board early with an RBI sacrifice fly to left field in the bottom of the first, before taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third with an RBI groundout to first. The Huskers added two more runs in the bottom for the 4-0 lead.

GCU got on the board in the top of the seventh frame with a sacrifice fly from Kendsey Hill, sending pinch runner Taylor Tetone home for the run. A single from Sierra Smith extended her hit streak to 15 games and gave the Lopes one more chance to tie it up, but it wasn't enough as the Lopes fell, 4-1.

GAME TWO
The Buckeyes took an early lead over the Lopes with a run in the first and a pair in the bottom of the third to go ahead, 3-0.

GCU tallied a run in the top of the fifth to start the comeback, as freshman Kaylee Dietrich was walked to load the bases and an OSU wild pitch advanced the runners and sent Taylor Kaye home for the run.

A 2 RBI single to shortstop from Shea Smith sent a pair of runners home for the 3-3 tie game.

Jordon Keeton hit a sacrifice fly to send Shea Smith home for the 4-3 lead, before a lead-off homerun in the top of the sixth gave GCU a 5-3 lead and tallied the fifth unanswered run for the Lopes.

Back-to-back strikeouts from Morrison and a fly out to left field held the two-run lead for GCU in the bottom of the sixth heading to the final inning of play.

Gonzalez came through again with a 2 RBI single to left center field, sending Kaye and Keeton home for the 7-3 lead. The Buckeyes tried to answer with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but the Lopes defense held strong for the marquee win.

Gonzalez was 3-4 on the game with three RBI and a run, while Sierra Smith was 2-4 and the pair of Shea Smith and Madelyn Dowdle were 1-3.

Kaye finished the game with a pair of runs and a 1-2 outing at the plate.

GCU returns to the Easton Invitational for two final games tomorrow, as the Lopes face DePaul at 10:30 a.m. (MST) and host-team Cal State Fullerton at 1 p.m.